170 receive free eye surgery at Entebbe Hospital

Joseph Banabus Muruka, aged 89, had nearly resigned from the natural privilege of clear sight. For close to three years, he faced blurs, movement uncertainty, and reduced daily routines due to painful eyes.

His wife, 79-year-old Akochi Corofina, is battling the same condition. Over the weekend (May 2–3, 2026), at Entebbe Grade B Hospital, the couple’s lives took a dramatic turn when both underwent successful eye surgery, restoring not just their proper sight but also their independence.

This was during the two-day health camp conducted by the medics at the hospital with support from North Indian Cultural Association of Uganda (NICA) as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) undertakings.

Muruka, of Nsamizi village in Entebbe Municipality, recalled the long and frustrating journey that led him to the operating table.

“It has been almost three years since I started having problems seeing properly,” he said.
He had earlier sought help at a nearby health facility, only to be diagnosed with cataracts and referred elsewhere for surgery. However, he could not afford the bills involved.

“They told me I had cataracts, but they didn’t have the facilities to operate. I was advised to go to bigger hospitals, but I had no money,” he explained.

Cataracts, according to medics, are a common eye condition, especially among the elderly, where the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to blurred vision and, if untreated, eventual blindness.

The condition is treatable through a relatively simple surgical procedure that replaces the cloudy lens with an artificial one, restoring vision almost immediately in many cases.

“I got a message that there would be free eye operations if I registered. I rushed to Entebbe, and the doctors confirmed I needed surgery,” he said.

He underwent the procedure on Saturday and returned the following day for review. The results were instant.

“When they removed the bandages and gave me glasses, I could see again. I can see now,” he said, his voice filled with relief. His wife, Corofina, who had undergone a similar procedure, shared in the renewed hope.

Over 170 Ugandans from different parts of the country benefited from the medical intervention.

The chairman of NICA, Vijay Sharma, said the outreach was part of their broader mission to extend healthcare services to vulnerable communities.

“We started these CSR activities to look after people who cannot afford medication or surgeries,” Sharma said.

He indicated that the association, founded in 2007, has been conducting medical camps since 2011 and has held 81 to date.

“So far, we have screened almost 39,000 people, provided medication and spectacles to about 16,000, and carried out around 2,000 cataract surgeries,” Sharma revealed.

He added, “We decided to come to Entebbe because the numbers were high and patients were waiting too long for surgeries. The surgeries were 100% free,” he explained.

Sharma revealed that, for mobilisation, screening, medication, spectacles, and the operation itself, the cost per patient is between sh500,000 and sh600,000,” he said.

NICA partnered, among others, with ACP Safaris, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care, a global charity with operations across multiple continents, GEEPAS, and the health ministry.

“Through our Mission Africa, we are reaching thousands of lives through healthcare, education, and community development,” Riddhi Borania, representative of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care, said.

She described the impact of cataract surgeries as transformative. “The ability to see again is not just medical; it restores independence, confidence, and hope,” she said.
Borania revealed plans for a larger outreach.

“We are planning a two-day multi-speciality medical camp in Entebbe that aims to serve over 2,000 patients,” she said.